In case you haven't heard, on Sunday night Jake Burris, the campaign manager for Ken Aden, the Democratic candidate in Arkansas' insanely red 3rd District, came home to a horrifying scene. Some yayhoos had showed up at Burris' home and brutally killed his pet cat, then scrawled "LIBERAL" across the cat's body. To his credit, Republican incumbent Steve Womack condemned this in the strongest terms.
I just got promoted at work, and decided to allow myself only one luxury until I can get my own place--a Coldplay concert here in Charlotte in July. But after reading The Southern Dem's diary on this horrifying incident, I thought this was as good a reason as any to let Aden know that we're behind him.
There was reason enough to give Aden some love before this horrible incident. For those who don't know, AR-03 is northwest Arkansas--Fort Smith, Fayetteville, Rogers, and the home of Wal-Mart, Bentonville. It's got a PVI of R+16, and has been in Republican hands since 1967. McCain carried this district with 64 percent of the vote. Fayetteville's the only swatch of blue in this district--the rest of it is congested red, and is as fundified as anywhere in the South. And yet, Aden looks like the kind of candidate who can run in such a tough district. He's a former Staff Sergeant in the 82nd Airborne and the 1st Infantry Division.
If this incident in Russellville is any indication, this campaign season is going to be several times uglier than 2008. Let's do what the netroots does best when one of our guys is cut down--give until it hurts.